February Issue

febrero 2017

Vol. 8 Edición 1

Al servicio de la comunidad latinx del condado de Humboldt

Young child holding, “I am the future.” | Estee S. Trevizo

La vida después de Trump

por Alejandro Arredondo En las dos semanas que lleva gobernando, Donald Trump ha convertido en acción la retórica de su campaña controversial electoral con la firma de órdenes, decretos y memorandos.

Entre las acciones dispuestas por el nuevo presidente figuran siete órdenes ejecutivas, 11 memorandos y dos proclamas presidenciales.

He aquí una lista de las medidas tomadas hasta ahora por Trump: 20 DE ENERO DEL 2017 Executive Order Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal Fue la primera acción ejecutiva que Trump firmó el mismo día de su toma de posesión. “Minimizar la carga económica” de la Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (ACA, por sus siglas en inglés) conocida como ‘Obamacare’.

23 DE ENERO DEL 2017 Memorandum For the Sec-

Las acciones dicen más que las palabras retary of State The Secretary of Helath and Human Services The Administrator of The United States Agency for International Development Trump firma la orden ejecutiva para sacar a EE.UU. del acuerdo comercial TPP (Acuerdo de Asociación Transpacífico), en el Despacho Oval de la Casa Blanca, en Washington. El TPP fue negociado por Obama, que hizo de ese acuerdo una de sus prioridades y dentro de su estrategia para profundizar los lazos con la región de Asia-Pacífico.

tivó el proyecto de construcción del oleoducto Keystone XL que atravesaba EEUU desde

24 DE ENERO DEL 2017 Executive Order Expediting EnvironmenIllustration by Celene Lopez tal Reviews and Approval for High Priority Infrastructure Projects Canadá hasta las refinerías del El presidente Trump firmó Golfo de México. La gigantesuna orden ejecutiva que reacca obra había generado fuerte

oposición.

El mismo día, Trump también rubricó una orden similar (memorandum) pero para reactivar el oleoducto Dakota Access, que atraviesa las Dakotas, Iowa y llega a Illinois. La obra también había generado oposición, esta vez desde comunidades indígenas y activistas.

25 DE ENERO DE 2017 Executive Order Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States Trump firmó dos decretos que llaman a “la construcción inmediata de un muro físico en la frontera sur” del país, así como a crear más centros de detención para indocumentados y a “acelerar la deportación” de aquellas personas cuyas pretensiones legales de permanecer en Estados Unidos “hayan sido rechazadas legalmente”.

Además, Trump ordenó restaurar el controvertido programa “Comunidades Seguras”, cancelado en 2014, que permite que las autoridades locales compartan con el Gobierno federal las huellas digitales de los indocumentados presos en cárceles locales y de los condados, con el fin de deportarlos.

27 DE ENERO DEL 2017 Executive Order Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States El presidente firmó una orden ejecutiva que busca reducir a la mitad el número de refugiados establecido por Obama y además prohíbe la entrada durante 120 días a los ciudadanos de siete países de mayoría musulmana hasta que se adopten nuevos procesos de escrutinio: Irak, Siria, Irán, Sudán, Libia, Somalia y Yemen.

Alejandro Arredondo can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

Eureka’s Women’s March

Lunar New Year Celebration

Alicia Garza Lecture

Metalachi

In Case of ICE

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febrero 2017

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News Editorial

from the El Leñador Staff After increased pressure on the university administration to provide real academic and cultural resources for the growing population of students of color, the African American Center for Academic Excellence (AACAE) and Latinx Center for Academic Excellence (LCAE) were established in the fall of 2015.

In an effort to make these spaces inclusive and interconnected, the university brought the AACAE and the LCAE, along with the previously established MultiCultural Center (MCC), and the Indian Teacher and Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) under the umbrella of the Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence. The unification of all centers also gave ITEPP a new name, the Native American Center for Academic Excellence, despite having been known as ITEPP since 1979 as well as having been established by local tribal members and faculty in

1969.

A year and a half later, the centers have seen low staff retention with all three new coordinators of the AACAE, LCAE, and MCC having left to pursue other career opportunities. The three centers are currently being coordinated by 120-day emergency hires, with the LCAE seeing it’s second interim coordinator this academic year after multiple failed hiring searches since the exit of its first coordinator in the spring of 2016.

There is no room for a lack of transparency and investment in students and their success. Continuing to enroll more students of color to make campus more diverse and inclusive is not enough without actually supporting them and the staff who directly work with those countless students.

It is probably safe to assume that anyone who works in higher education and student affairs, specifically

in cultural centers and the empowerment of historically underrepresented students, is doing it because they love it.

However, we cannot blame them when they choose to leave our institution because they are not earning a career salary or because they cannot provide meaningful support and services to the students they serve.

As laid out in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion’s Campus Diversity Plan, two of Humboldt State University’s goals are Inclusive Excellence through “Ensuring equity and diversity in the experience of all HSU students,” and Faculty & Staff Diversity by “Ensuring equity and inclusiveness in the workplace.” While there are many subcategories within the goals, as well as strategic plans to achieve such goals, the majority fall upon the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI), and the Office of Retention & Inclusive Student Success (RISS) to

successful execute. However many of the strategies have not been initiated and many of the goals have made little success.

The question then becomes whether Humboldt State University is making an institutional effort, backed by the financial investment, in the coordinators of the Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence and the resources that are meant to support underrepresented students.

With RISS being overseen by a new Associate Vice President with a salary range that is significantly higher than any of the coordinators, students must wonder why three out of the four cultural centers have left HSU and been replaced with temporary interim coordinators.

Furthermore, students should also be informed as to why ODI’s director position has yet to be filled, with two full time faculty serving as interim directors during another

hiring search. There must be a reason why such valuable staff are parting ways with the university. While it may seem easy to turn to the two offices and look for answers, it could serve as a better expenditure of energy to ask the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (who oversees both offices) why there is a deficit in staff and resources.

If Humboldt State University is serious about ensuring equity and diversity across campus, it needs to institutionalize the resources that are provided to students, which include everything from an appropriate space to hiring staff that will stick around by providing them with not only a career salary but a welcoming and cooperative relationship with administration. Moreover, if it is serious about increasing student retention rates, it must be serious in staff retention rates.

Editor-in-Chief Carmen Peña-Gutierrez Managing Editor Estee S. Trevizo Opinion Editor Hector Arzate News Editor Mónica Ramirez Infographic by Jazmine Mendoza

Meet the Interim Coordinators

by Meg Bezak

Kenya Uhuru James Nunley

Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Kenya U James Nunley has polished her academic skills as a student and staff member in institutions of higher education around the country.

“Humboldt is different, it’s not New York and it’s not Los Angeles,” Nunley said.

Layout Editors Andrew Smith Rodriguez Jazmine Mendoza Writers Meg Bezak Elizabeth Alvarez Sarahi Apaez Alejandro Arredondo Briana Yah-Diaz Translators Carlos Olloqui Alejandro Arredondo

After having lived in Georgia and graduating from high school in Hawaii, Nunley studied and worked at Oklahoma State, New York University, UCLA, and USC. Nunley now brings her strong interest in the experiences of students of color to the African American Center for Academic Excellence (AACAE) at Humboldt State.

Illustrators Gichi Viramontes Celene Lopez Hector Arzate

“I’ve always been involved in the Black student experience on campus—as a student and as a staff member. It’s been a passion and interest of mine,” Nunley said.

“I knew that moving into a cultural center was a direction I wanted to go in my career in higher education.”

Photo Editor Andrew Smith Rodriguez

Nunley’s master’s thesis at Oklahoma State--which focused on comparing the Black student experience at historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) versus predominantly white institutions (PWI)--led to the creation of the Uhuru House, themed student housing named after Kenya’s middle name. Similar to the Sankofa House at HSU, it was designed for students to feel supported and connected as they center in on the experiences and heritage of Black/African people.

In light of some of the unique challenges that students of color face at Humboldt State University and in the community, Kenya hopes to contribute to efforts towards creating a cohesive unit among the centers.

Life and Arts Editor Carlos Olloqui

Photographers Briana Yah-Diaz Estee S. Trevizo Carmen Peña-Gutierrez

Interim coordinator Kenya U James Nunley | Meg Bezak

Faculty Advisor Andrea Juarez

Meg Bezak can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

Promocione con El Leñador

Si desea promocionar su negocio o sus servicios profesionales en El Leñador, por favor contactese con nosotros al el-lenador@humboldt.edu.

El Leñador is a bilingual newspaper produced by Humboldt State University students of underrepresented ethnic groups. Our core values drive us to become the voice of the Latinx community in Humboldt County. We are committed to keeping our community informed of the most important issues in actuality. Through our newspaper, we hope to inspire other minorities to share their stories and experiences, thus creating more social, political, and cultural diversity in local media.

El Leñador es un periódico bilingüe producido por estudiantes subrepresentados de Humboldt State University. Nuestros valores fundamentales, como la integridad y la honestidad, nos llevan a buscar la voz de la comunidad latinx en el condado de Humboldt. Estamos comprometidos con mantener a nuestra comunidad informada de los eventos más importantes en actualidad. A través de nuestro periódico, esperamos inspirar a otras minorías para que publiquen un periódico propio y original, creando así más diversidad social, política, y cultural en la prensa local.

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febrero 2017

Noticias

by Estee S. Trevizo

The Future is Femme

Arcata local, Sophia Lopez holding “Chicana Power” | Estee S. Trevizo

“I was standing in solidarity and united with all Indigenous women and non-Indigenous women worldwide to stand up and speak out against the hatred being displayed. I was standing up against the violence against Mother Earth and our Indigenous women that are targeted on a daily basis. When one of us is targeted all of us are targeted. The system we live in is highly correlated with how we treat Mother Earth and how we treat our women. We have to respect our women, we have to respect our Mother or we will have nothing left for future generations. Women bring life and our Mother Earth provides us with what we need to sustain that life. We must protect the sacredness of our women and the sacredness of our Mother Earth against these destructive and extractive abuses we are seeing displayed. We are the RESISTANCE and we will not stand for hatred, abuse of our women, or the abuse of Mother Earth. This isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning.”

-HSU student Marlene Dusek from the Payomkawichum people

HSU students and community members marching in solidarity of indigenous women. | Estee S. Trevizo

Eureka local, Khristina Bascochea holding, “Silence is not an option.” | Estee S. Trevizo

Meet the Interim Coordinators Grecia Rojas

by Meg Bezak Grecia Rojas, a Chicana born and raised in east Los Angeles, is returning to Humboldt State University after graduating with degrees in political science and criminal justice studies in 2012.

“It was really sad and frustrating for me to hear that the retention rates haven’t changed,” Rojas said. “You come from a very segregated area like LA where its majority is Latino, Hispanic, and Mexican American communities.

When you come here it’s different. It’s a huge culture shock. It makes low retention rates a little more understandable but it’s clear that if it’s been a problem for so long, it’s not the students.”

Since graduation, Rojas has been community organizing with True North in Del Norte County. Inspired by her work with immigration policy and thriving after coming from a high school that didn’t prepare her for college, Rojas aims to create a space where students are set up for success.

“I don’t think college is supposed to be a walk in the park but it just seemed a lot harder and was definitely intimidating” Rojas said. “People just didn’t feel welcomed and being a person of color has a lot to do with it.”

Returning to campus this semester as a coordinator for the MultiCultural Center (MCC), she is excited to contribute to the safe space that the center offers students.

“I want the MCC to continue the legacy of what it’s been. It’s a home away from home, a place where students can feel safe,” Rojas said. “But I also want to hold HSU to a higher standard because it is an institution, and it’s one where students should feel safe.”

Interim coordinator Grecia Rojas | Meg Bezak

The Academic

Excellence Continues

by Mónica Ramirez

The Latinx Center for Academic Excellence is what kept Lucero Vargas at Humboldt State. As a sophomore international studies major and student coordinator for the center, she hopes to see change on campus and for the centers to expand and collaborate. “[The centers] are meant to empower students to become

leaders, to be successful in life, and to be proud of your culture,” Vargas said.

Vargas was doubting herself and missed her hometown in the central valley where her culture is well represented by the people, sights, smells, and food.

“I volunteered, went to events, and when I spoke to someone here, they told me ‘I

was you freshman year,’” Vargas said. “I needed someone to tell me, ‘you should be here.’”

This semester, along with a new interim at the LCAE, there is also an interim coordinator at the MultiCultural Center and the African American Center for Academic Excellence. continues on page 5

febrero 2017

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Vida y Artes Lunar New Year

Students come together to celebrate the year of the rooster

by Estee S. Trevizo It is the Year of the Rooster and people all over the world are coming together to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

On Saturday, Jan. 28, families, children, and students gathered in the KBR for some music, food, and a live dance performance in honor of the event. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, follows the lunar calendar and is a 15 day celebration that ends with a lantern festival.

Because it follows the lunar calendar, the celebration falls on a different day each year.

Cindy Fong is the coordinator for the Asian Desi Pacific Islander Collective (ADPIC).

“In China, asking for someone’s zodiac sign is a polite way to ask for someone’s age,” Fong said.

This event is celebrated at the beginning of Spring honoring love, good fortune, and life.

This is a time when families come together and eat traditional meals that ensure a successful, prosperous new year.

Red envelopes are handed out enclosed with money to symbolize good luck and fortune. It is encouraged to hand out envelopes with even digit amounts, for example, two dollar bills and six dollars would be considered lucky numbers.

Four dollar bills are not accepted because in China four is the number of death, which is unlucky.

Some of the practiced traditions in China include cleaning

one’s entire house before the new year, refraining from using any sharp cutting objects, and settling all debt before the new year begins.

Ava Mark, the President of the Chinese Language and Culture club at Humboldt State gave a brief presentation during the event explaining the Lunar New Year.

It is encouraged to refrain from using sharp objects because it is seen as “cutting away your luck,” Mark said. “Family is pretty much everything in China. A lot of foods are about family togetherness and strengthening those ties.”

Her presentation listed some of the lucky foods like dumplings, oranges, uncut long noodles (representing long life), whole fish, sweet rice balls, and glutinous rice cake. The glutinous rice cake is a symbol for gaining higher income.

Mark was wearing a traditional dress called “Hanfu,” a direct translation of the words “chinese clothing”. These dresses are worn by women and are made to be really tight, because in Chinese culture women are meant to serve men. They cannot sit down because it is considered disrespectful. The dresses are usually red because the it is considered good luck in China.

Foreign exchange student Zimo Yang has been in the United States for five months and was excited to see so many people of her culture in one

room.

“I am from China, and in these five months I have not seen any Chinese people,” she said. “I feel really moved by this because it made me feel like I was home. It is the first time I’ve seen people from my culture.”

Yang has been to Chinatown in San Francisco but was upset to see so many Chinese people who didn’t speak Chinese. “It upsets me because I feel like we have differences. It was nice to come here and be able to speak my language with other Chinese people,” she said.

Cindy Fong, and Ben Yang are coordinators of the Asian Desi Pacific Islander Collective on campus through the Multicultural Center who planned and prepared the entire event.

“We try to be as inclusive as

possible,” Fong said.

According to Fong, this celebration is a very big deal. “It is very much about family time,” Fong said.

“I really want everyone to understand the ADPI community and understand that within the Asian community there are so many different groups, and we try to cover these cultures during the events that we throw,” Fong said.

The Asian Desi Pacific Islander Collective is a club dedicated to the organization and advancement of Asian Desi Pacific Islander students within the community and on campus.

Alexander Badger is a member of the collective.

“We help the community through cultural sharing within the same space, and we help students by allowing them to

come to us with any academic or social problems that they might face so they can have a comfortable peer group to be able to talk to,” Badger said.

He explains that although Asian students are enormous on a lot of college campuses, they have trouble organizing.

They want to create a student center of excellence for the Asian community at Humboldt State, because they are one of the few underrepresented groups on campus that does not have a center.

ADPIC has weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. For more information on the ADPI collective, you can contact the MultiCultural Center.

Estee S. Trevizo can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

Eastern Ways Martial Arts performing one of China’s oldest cultural arts the Lion Dance. | Briana Yah-Diaz

¡Tres, Dos, Uno! 6 Reason Why You Want To traducido por Carmen Peña-Gutierrez Para los que se quieren cantar una de Chente, o para los que quieren vivir la vida loca con un poco de metal – Metalachi viene con todo.

Originalmente de Juárez, México, viviendo en Los Angeles, Metalachi es un mariachi que toca canciones clásicas de metal con instrumentación de mariachi tradicional.

El 25 de enero, el grupo estuvo en el Sapphire Palace del Blue Lake Casino.

“El Único Metal Mariachi en el Mundo,” conforme a Metalachi, está compuesto de los hermanos Espinoza.

‘Desde chiquitos era mariachi en la familia,” Vega De La Rockha dijo, vocalist de la banda. “Todos en la familia puro mariachi, era nuestra mamá a la que le gustaba la música metal – haci es como empezamos.”

La banda incluye Vega De La Rockha de vocalista, El Cucuy en la trompeta, Queen Kayla en el violín, Nacho Picante en el guitarrón, y Vato

en la guitarra.

“Todos tenemos la misma mama, pero diferentes papas,” El Cucuy dijo. “Eso te dice algo de ella – le gustaba el pari.”

“Un día experimentamos con una canción, Ironman -- esa fue la primera canción de metal que cubrimos,” Vega dijo. “Jugamos con eso y todo el mundo empezó a bailar, amigo.”

“Pero la nombramos Iron Tapatío, compa,” El Cucuy dijo.

Metalachi está de gira con Mac Sabbath y está trabajando en su tercer álbum. El tour se realizará en marzo y abril.

Dirigiéndose hacia su barrio, la banda estara en Hermosa Beach, Big Bear Lake y Riverside.

“Puro pari, hermano,” Vega dijo. “Vega en Las Vegas después de Riverside, va a estar chingon… Y ey, escuche por ahí que aquí es la capital de la mota?”

Go To Alicia Garza’s Lecture

by Hector Arzate

1. #BLACKLIVESMATTER 2. Learn more about one of the most prominent political and social justice movements in the nation.

3. Learn more about technology and social media as tools for organizing and activism.

translated by can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

Illustration by Gichi Viramontes

4. C’mon….it’s $5 dollars if you’re a student.

5. Get empowered to make a difference in your community 6. So you won’t regret not attending this lecture after reading our next issue.

El grupo Metalachi posando despues de su concierto | Carmen Pena-Gutierrez

Hector Arzate can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

febrero 2017

5

Features Mariachi, Metal, or Both?

The world’s first and only heavy metal mariachi band.

by Carlos Olloqui

One minute you’re getting your cumbia on with some “bidi bidi bam bam,” the next minute you’re being thrown into a full on “raining blood” type mosh pit in the middle of the crowd.

Anything from Selena to Slayer, Metalachi had you covered Wednesday night, Jan. 25, at

Blue Lake Casino’s Sapphire Palace.

Hailing from the streets of east Los Angeles, Metalachi is a 5-piece ensemble of classically trained mariachi musician siblings. The band covers metal classics while still staying true to the traditional mariachi

Metalachi performing on Jan. 25 | Carmen Peña-Gutierrez and I have the same dad so she’s not related to these foo’s.

People say I got the beauty and she got the talent.”

“You got the chi chi’s, that’s for sure,” Queen Kayla, violinist and only lady in the band, said. “And I’m way less hairy than you.”

The band features Vega De

La Rockha on vocals, El Cucuy on trumpet, Queen Kayla on violin, Nacho Picante on guitarron, and Vato on guitar.

“So yeah bro, we didn’t really know our dads, our mom was a little promiscuous, but thanks to her we are here,” said Vega. “One day we kind of experimented with one song –

instrumentation.

“Since we were chiquitos, it’s been mariachi en la familia,” Vega De La Rockha lead vocalist of Metalachi said. “Everyone in the family puro mariachi, it was really only our mama that was into the metal scene – that’s how we got into it.”

“The World’s and Only Heavy Metal Mariachi Band,” according to Metalachi, has appeared on the show America’s Got Talent, back in 2015 and has also been named one of the top 5 cover/tribute bands in Los Angeles by LA Weekly.

The Roots: Originally from Juarez, Mexico, the band was formed seven years ago, by the Espinoza brothers or, Metalachi.

“We all have the same mama, different dads though,” Metalachi’s trumpeter El Cucuy said. “Except for Kayla, Kayla

Lead vocalist of Metalachi Vega De La Rockha | Carmen Peña Gutierrez we did Ironman that was the first metal song we covered. We played that one and everyone started dancing, dude.”

“Yeah, we played that one but we called it Iron Tapatio, homie,” El Cucuy said.

The Now: “The show tonight was tight, dude -- Humboldt goes crazy,”

said Nacho Picante. “Two of my strings busted towards the end but we had to keep rocking.”

Metalachi is currently touring with Mac Sabbath and working on their third album.

The tour will go into March and April. Heading back down south to their barrio, the band

will be performing in Hermosa Beach, Big Bear Lake, and Riverside.

“Puro party, bro,” Vega said.

“Vega en Las Vegas after Riverside, damn -- it’s going to be tight… And aye, I heard this is the capital of la mota?”

Carlos Olloqui can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

Meet the Interim Coordinators Fernando Paz

by Meg Bezak Fernando Paz, the interim coordinator for the Latinx Center for Academic Excellence (LCAE), lives through the words of Saint Catherine of Siena: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

“In that context, I am a social arsonist. I’m looking to help people find the fire they have within them,” Paz said. “I’m one of those people who believes that we are all born with a gift, that we all have something that God gave us. We all carry a piece of the divine.”

Paz began his career at Humboldt State University in 2000 when he set out to earn degrees in history and ethnic studies. Almost two decades later, he has gone on to work with organizations like True North and Latino Net to focus on immigration advocacy in Humboldt County. Paz was raised in Los Angeles, Calif. by immigrant parents from Mexico. With his wife and three children by his side, he places family and community as his top priorities.

“Organizing is more than a full-time job. I see how I can bring the skills I learned from it here: helping people claim their voice and claim their power,” Paz said. “You can flourish academically and culturally by being who you are. You can flourish and be nurtured by the roots that you come from.”

Paz hopes to apply his social justice organizing experience and skills toward his mission at the LCAE while building upon the relationship between the university and the surrounding community. Acknowledging Humboldt State University as a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI), he aims to bring to light that success comes from recognizing the intellectual contributions of people from this historical cultural trajectory.

“My desire to be part of this center is to be in the position that recognizes the genius, the experience, and the knowledge that students of marginalized communities bring to HSU and to nurture that,” Paz said. “I want the center to be seen as critical to the university’s success and broadly in the campus community.”

Interim coordinator Fernando Paz | Briana Yah-Diaz

continued from page 3

Search for Center Coordinator Continues.

Corliss Bennett-McBride, director of the Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence, was tasked with hiring a full-time coordinator for the LCAE by the end of the fall 2016. However, the process required more than the 120 days that the first interim coordinator had.

“This semester we started out with three emergency hires

which are working out great,” Bennett-McBride said.

The first search for an LCAE coordinator began in spring 2016 but was failed due to poor timing. Bennett-McBride puts student opinions as a priority and could not move forward without them. There will even be an added student town hall meeting for each coordinator.

“This is where they can have

direct questions answered,” Bennett-McBride said.

A new set of candidates for the LCAE coordinator position will visit HSU on Feb. 13 and Feb. 20, and Bennett-McBride doesn’t plan for this search to extend through the semester.

Unlike the MCC and AACAE coordinators, the positions are expected to be filled before the fall 2017 semester.

Cameron Rodriguez, a film major and student coordinator at the AACAE, hopes that administration understands the need students have for the centers.

“They need to step their game up with the current state,” Rodriguez said.

Vargas also agrees that the centers need to be taken more seriously and the fact that there

are interims at three different centers within a semester is something to pay attention to.

“Administration takes a large role in this,” Vargas said. “[It] makes a statement. Why aren’t coordinators staying here?

That’s the bigger picture.”

Mónica Ramirez can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

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Comunidad

febrero 2017

Editorial

Desde el personal de El Leñador traducido por Alejandro Arredondo Después de un aumento de presión sobre la administración de la universidad para proporcionar recursos académicos y culturales reales para el aumento de la población de estudiantes de color, el African American Center for Academic Excellence (AACAE) y el Centro Latinx por Excelencia Académica (LCAE) se establecieron en el otoño del año 2015.

En un esfuerzo por hacer estos espacios inclusivos e interconectados, la universidad trajo el AACAE y la LCAE, junto con el centro MultiCultural (MCC) previamente establecidos, Indian Teacher and Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) bajo el paraguas de los Centros Culturales por Excelencia Académica (CCAE). La unificación de todos los centros también dio a ITEPP un nombre nuevo, Native American Center for Academic Excellence, a pesar de haber sido conocido como ITEPP desde 1979, así como haber sido establecido por facultad y miembros tribales

locales en 1969.

Un año y medio después, los centros han visto una retención baja del personal con los tres nuevos coordinadores del AACAE, LCAE y el MCC en dejar sus puestos para perseguir otras oportunidades de carrera. Los tres centros son actualmente coordinados por contrataciones de emergencia de 120 días, ya que el LCAE contrato su segundo coordinador provisional este año después de varias fallas en la contratación de empleo desde la salida de su primer coordinador en la primavera del 2016.

No hay lugar para la falta de transparencia e inversión en los estudiantes y su éxito.

Continuar a inscribir más estudiantes de color para convertir al campus más diverso e incluyente no es suficiente si realmente no les aporta a ellos apoyo y el personal que trabaja directamente con los innumerables estudiantes.

Es probable asumir que cualquier persona que trabaja en la educación superior y ´´ asuntos estudiantiles, especial-

Calendar complied by Mónica Ramirez | Designed by Jazmine Mendoza

mente en centros culturales y en el empoderamiento de los estudiantes históricamente subrepresentados, lo está haciendo porque les gusta. Sin embargo, no podemos culparlos cuando deciden salirse de nuestra institución porque no están ganando un salario de carrera o porque no se proporcionan los servicios y apoyo significativos a los estudiantes que sirven.

Establecido en el departamento Office of Diversity & Inclusion Campus Diversity Plan, dos de los objetivos de Humboldt State University son Inclusive Excellence a través de “Asegurar la equidad y diversidad en la experiencia de todos los estudiantes de HSU,” y la diversidad del profesorado y por “asegurar la equidad y la inclusión en el lugar de trabajo.” Hay muchas subcategorías dentro de los objetivos, así como planes estratégicos para alcanzar tales objetivos, la mayoría cae en Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) y Office of Retention & Inclusive Student Success (RISS), sin embargo muchas de las estrategias no

han sido iniciadas y muchos de los objetivos han hecho poco éxito.

La pregunta entonces es si Humboldt State University está haciendo un esfuerzo institucional, respaldado por la inversión financiera, en los coordinadores del Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence y los recursos que están destinados a apoyar a los estudiantes subrepresentados.

Con RISS siendo supervisado por un nuevo vicepresidente asociado con un rango de sueldo que es significativamente más alto que cualquiera de los coordinadores, los estudiantes deben preguntarse por qué tres de los cuatro centros culturales han dejado HSU y han sido sustituidas por coordinadores provisionales temporales.

Además, los estudiantes también deben ser informados en cuanto a porqué el puesto del director de ODI tiene todavía que ser llenado, con dos profesores de tiempo completo que sirven como directores provisionales durante la búsqueda de contratar a

alguien más. Debe haber una razón por qué nuestro valioso personal parte su despedida con la universidad. Aunque pueda parecer fácil girar a las dos oficinas y buscar respuestas, podría servir de un mejor gasto de energía para pedir el preboste y vicepresidente de asuntos académicos (que supervisa ambas oficinas) por qué hay un déficit de personal y recursos.

Si Humboldt State University está decidida en garantizar la equidad y la diversidad a través del campus, necesita institucionalizar los recursos que se proporcionan a los estudiantes, que incluyen todo, desde un espacio apropiado para la contratación de un personal que se mantenga proporcionando no sólo con un salario de carrera sino también una relación agradable y cooperativa con la administración. Por otra parte, si es serio el aumento de las tasas de retención estudiantil, debe tambien ser seria en las tasas de retención de personal.

Allejandro Arredondo can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

febrero 2017

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Insert Name Here

A response to losing a peer due to police brutality

by Briana Yah-Diaz Dear [Insert name here], What have the people in blue uniform done to you. They took your life away. Who are they to think they have that power. I’m sorry, I’m sorry this life wasn’t made for us. I’m sorry for their ignorance. I’m sorry the system doesn’t want us. I’m sorry we have to go through this.

“One of mine,” she says as she mourns her lost of a former student.

“He wasn’t bad, I grew up with him” ,she says as she defends your name from those who portray you as bad and assume you’re to blame due to your skin complexion.

I’m sorry we aren’t valued. We matter, our lives matter. We belong here. I’m sorry it came to this. I’m sorry we no longer feel safe. I’m sorry we can’t always trust the blue uniform. I’m sorry they don’t say your name. The pain they each feel, they lost a friend. A former student. A classmate. A brother. A son. I’m so sorry we still have to voice that our lives matter. I’m so sorry.. this is another reason to fight for what’s right.

No more. No more deaths, no more tears. Say their name. We won’t be silenced. We do this for you, for every life taken away from the hands of the blue uniform, we do this for you. We will fight. We will voice ourselves. No more deaths, no more tears. Enough is enough. *bang* No more fear that the next name we hear is one of our own. *clink* No more pain caused by these chains we were put in.

Ya no más. Ya no quiero sufrir, no me gusta este dolor. Las familias que sufren, el dolor que sienten, ya no más.

Los Angeles, land of the killed. Everyday another one of us is taken. Everyday we fear it’s going to be someone we know. Los Angeles, land of injustice. Each time another blue uniform is pardon for a murder.

Sincerely, [Insert name here]

Illustration by Celene Lopez

Exit Stage Left

Briana Yah-Diaz can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

Looking back at the presidency of Barack Obama

by Hector Arzate After what seemed like a regular day at school for a sixth grader, I found myself watching the presidential election as if my favorite cartoon had been cancelled and replaced with something even better. With my eyes glued to the television screen and my ears wide open, I saw the face of hope and heard the voice of change in a man I had never met.

I had only turned 13-years-old the day before, however, I knew that Nov. 4, 2008 would be a day unlike any other. From the way he spoke of unity to the way the crowd roared for humanity, I knew that I was watching history unfold. Barack Obama was more than just a caricature of progress; he was a man who inspired an entire generation and worked to change the world.

Representation Matters But the inspiration that countless drew from President Obama goes beyond the complex dayto-day responsibilities held by the highest office in the land. Students like Glo Brown, 21, child development major, felt that simply seeing him in office was one aspect of how he changed the world.

“I think it was really important to see our first black president, for people to see and know that representation does matter,” Brown said.

However, she also thought that others thought that President Obama could have done more for specific communities.

“Throughout his presidency, he did some things that were really cool, but one critique that I’ve heard from others is that he didn’t do anything for black people specifically,” Brown said.

“And I understand that, but I think it was really hard for him to focus on that when he had to repair a lot of the things that happened under the previous administration.”

The complexity of policy, presidents, and people The populations President Obama impacted were as diverse as the United States, with hundreds of thousands being affected by his executive orders and administrative policies. Students like Lupe Tinoco, 23, a sociology and ethnic studies major, also felt the duality of his role as president.

“Looking back now, I am conflicted on his presidency because he was the first African American president and there was a lot of issues that his administration advocated for, like DACA and supporting undocumented students,” Tinoco said.

While many feel that President Obama made a strong effort to bridge the disadvantages that undocumented immigrants face, there is no denying that more people were deported under his administration than any other president at 2.5 million.

Despite the strides that were made, he will be remembered as the “Deporter-in-Chief ” to many

immigration groups.

“These types of programs were really positive, but you can’t ignore the fact that his presidency did have a lot of deportations,” Tinoco said. “But also, he’s a complex individual. I’m not excusing the things he didn’t do, but also acknowledging that he’s human and that he couldn’t do it all. I think that’s okay, as long we keep trying to achieve and create positive change. He was definitely a persona of that, to keep fighting the good fight.”

Humor and Charisma in the Highest Office of the Land The complexities of President Obama’s administration and policies will undoubtedly go in the history books to come. Aside from the politics, however, is his charisma and altruistic character that many will remember.

“He’s really personable, he still jokes around, he’s not this imaginary leader in the top of the sky that you can’t reach,” Brown said. “One thing in particular that happened recently, Malia and Sasha’s playground with a swing set, they put that in a youth center in Chicago. It used to sit outside of the White House but instead they chose to donate it. I thought that was really cool.”

Illustration by Celene Lopez

Others felt that his sense of humor was critical in showcasing his leadership, a huge difference compared to the short temperament of Donald Trump.

“When he made that Saturday Night Live sketch, ‘Thanks Obama,’ he was a very charismatic individual. He was a funny guy and I think that was one of my favorite moments throughout his presidency,” Tinoco said.

Exit Stage Left: verb. To exit or disappear in a quiet, non-dramatic fashion.

Following the graceful exit of President Obama and with the election of a president whose values represent a different narrative of the United States and what it stands for, I find myself reflecting on the stark differences between the two. Where one empowers the people and celebrates diversity, the other dehumanizes and hates what actually makes America great. For his leadership, and commitment to progress, despite all impediments, I thank President Obama.

Hector Arzate can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu

febrero 2017

8

Opinión

Graphic designed by Briana Yah-Diaz and Hector Arzate

Playlist designed by Meg Bezak

The Trump Administration Travel Ban

by Sarai Apaez During the entirety of his campaign, Trump expressed proudly his opinions on Muslims. Now as President, he has banned the immigration of women, men, and children from seven Muslim majority countries. These countries are Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Libya, and Sudan.

As a country that allows religious liberty, how is he able to do this?

Since this ban is not based explicitly on religion and instead based on nation of origin, it is not protected by the United States Constitution. By implementing a ban based on people from certain countries, Trump is allowed to pass this executive order as a national security interest. Specifically through the Immigration and Nationality Act, legalized in 1952,

People

Calendar designed by Jazmine Mendoza

which states that the President may “suspend the entry of any aliens... if found detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

As of Feb. 3, Federal Judge James L. Robart has temporarily blocked Trump’s immigration order nationwide after deciding that letting the ban continue would cause more harm than blocking it until the full case could be heard. The Trump administration then moved to appeal the ruling but a federal appeals court denied this request.

According to Pew Research Center, fewer than 1 million people came to the U.S. over the past decade from the seven countries included in this ban.

In the case of visas, they can not be revoked from people already in the U.S. but if people were to leave the U.S and try to come back, their visas would

no longer be valid. As a result of the ban, over 100,000 visas have reportedly been revoked, according to government lawyers.

Brian Martinez, a theatre arts major, had been planning to join the military ever since he was in high school but he plans on staying at Humboldt State to complete his bachelor’s degree now that Trump is president.

“The Muslim ban makes me question how we’ve led this hatred towards something that we see as different or don’t understand,” Martinez said. “We forget so easily how we’ve done this to other racial groups.”

Martinez compares the immigration ban to 75 years ago when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation forcing Japanese, Germans and Italians to register with the Dept. of Justice, and the U.S.’s detention of its Japanese

community during the Second World War, which were issues also justified through national security.

Student Cameron Rodriguez of the African American Center for Academic Excellence finds it crazy how overt the racism is in the immigration ban.

“To use that type of policy to express your prejudiced views towards others, it’s definitely crazy that this country would even allow that to happen,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez feels that Latinx students are a very important part when it comes to understanding the struggle and fear that comes from the immigration ban.

“They definitely understand the fears more than the African community at least specifically in this area,” Rodriguez said.

Student Noemi Pacheco of the Latinx Center for Academic

Excellence, said that the ban is wrong and clearly motivated by the fear of the other.

“In order to defeat these laws that are stepping on our rights and are failing to see us human beings, we need to realize that our struggle is combined with everybody’s struggle,” Pacheco said. “Tu lucha es mi lucha.”

If you are concerned about immigrant rights, support nonprofit organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) or Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that are fighting for immigrant rights and against discrimination.

Sarahi Apaez can be reached at el-lenador@humboldt.edu